Harmonica holder



NOV. 5, 1929. ELKlNGTON 15734,799

HARMONI CA HOLDER Filed Feb. 5, 1928 L h EVENTOR el ]1. thin ion Q E. wand/9% 1g 1/ ATTORNEY WITNESSES Patented Nov. 5, 1929 UNITED STATES LEIGH A. ELKINGTON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

HARMONICA HOLDER Application filed February 3, 1928. Serial No. 251,608. I

This invention relates to a harmonica holder, and has for an object to provide an improved construction wherein means are presented for properly holding the harmonica 5 either in a position for operation or a position out of the way.

Another object of the invention is to provide a harmonica holder, wherein the parts are so formed that one section will fit around the neck while the other part is swingable toward and from the mouth.

An additional object is to provide a harmonica holder which is capable of being folded into a substantially flat or nested position, and which when in use, will firmly hold the harmonica against longitudinal lateral movement.

In the accompanying drawing- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a harmonica holder, disclosing an embodiment of the invention, the same being shown applied to a figure and in an operated pomtion.

Figure 2 is a plan View of the holder shown in Figure 1, the same being shown unfolded.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through the holder shown in Figure 1, the parts being shown substantially in the same relative position.

Referring to the accompanying drawing by numerals, the holder is provided with what may be termed a stationary frame 1 and a swinging frame 2. The frame 1 is provided with a curved or neck section 3 which is adapted to fit substantially snugly around the neck of .an operator with the looped ends t and 5 extending toward the front and downwardly a certain distance. The frame 2 is provided with journal extensions 6 and 7 which extend through the loops 4 and 5 whereby the frame 2 may be swung back and forth as desired. Clamping nuts 8 and 9 are threaded onto the journal extensions 6 and 7 whereby the part or frame 2 may be clamped rigidly in any adjusted position. Preferably the nuts are tightened somewhat, though not as tight as possible. By thus only partly tightening the nuts, the frame 2 will remain in the position shown in Figures 1 and 3 or will remain in a lowered position.

When the harmonica 10 is to be used, the

parts are swung to an upward position as shown in Figure 1 and when the harmonica is not to be used, frame 2 is swung downwardly as far as possible or until the outer end bar 11 comes substantially in contact with the clothes of the person using the def vice. Frame 2 is provided with straight sections 12 and 13 which accommodate the respective springs 14 .and 15. Enlargements 16 and 17 are arranged at the inner ends of to the respective straight portions 12 and 13 and act as abutments for the springs. A harmonica supporting bar 18 is slidingly mounted on the sections 12 and 13. This bar is provided with an upstanding flange 19 which acts to prevent accidental movement of the harmonica away from the mouth.

In use, the bar 18 is pressed against the springs 12 and 13 until part of the harmonica may be inserted between the bar 18 and the end bar 11. After the parts have been thus adjusted, the springs will cause the bar 18 to properly clamp the harmonica in place so that the operator may play on the harmonica as desired. 7 The bar 18, as well as end bar 11, is comparatively small so that the person using the device may take in the mouth as much of the harmonica as desired during the operation oftonguing. The frames 1 and 2 are sufficiently wide adjacent the center part as shown in Figure 2, to permit the device to be readily moved over the head .and placed in the position shown in Figure 1. If the head is extra large, the frames could be sprung outwardly without trouble and then moved to the desired position. This would not in any way injure the parts and could be done with little effort. When the harmonica is not in use it is swung down out of the way and the operator is free to play a banjo or other instrument, as none of the parts are in the way of his hands or arms.

What I claim is:

1. A harmonica holder, comprising a wire structure formed into a front and rear frame, said rear frame being adapted to fit around the neck of an operator, said rear frame at one end being formed with eye members, said front frame at one end being formed with;v threaded journal members extending through said eye members, a clamping nut threaded onto each of said threaded journal members for causing said eye members to frictionally engage said front frame for holding it in any adjusted position without interfering with the swinging movement of the front frame, and means carried by said front frame for clamping a harmonica thereto.

2. A harmonica holder comprising a rear frame formed to fit around the neck of the person using the device, said rear frame being coiled at its ends to form a pair of eye members, a substantially U-shaped frontvframe formed with right angle projections at its ends, said projections being threaded and extending through said eye members, Winged nuts threaded on'sa-id projections for pressing said eye members against said front frame sufficiently to hold the front frame against accidental independent movement without preventing a swinging motion when pushed or pulled, said front frame having a holding bar, a clamping bar coacting with the holding bar for supporting a harmonica, said clamping bar being formed with an abutment for limiting the movement of the harmonica in one direction independent of the front frame, and a spring acting on the rear end of said clamping bar for causing the clamping bar to function.

3. A harmonica holder, comprising front and rear frames hingedly connected, a sliding bar mounted on said front frame, said bar acting to clamp a harmonica to said front frame, said bar having an upstanding flange for preventing independent movement of the harmonica away from the person using the same, and a spring acting on each end of said bar for moving the bar to a clamping position.

Signed at New York in the county of New York and State of New York this 1st day of February, 1928.

LEIGH A. ELKINGTON. 

